Sex Differences in Oxidative Stress and Depression-Like Behavior Following Chronic Lead Exposure from Pregnancy to Adulthood
- 1Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios, Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Sede Sur, Calzada de los Tenorios No. 235, Granjas Coapa, Tlalpan, 14330 CDMX, México
- 2Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Molecular y Nanotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, La Fama. Tlalpan, 14269 CDMX, México
- 3Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic heavy metal that crosses the placental barrier and may affect fetal development. However, the effects of chronic developmental Pb exposure on oxidative stress, stress-related endocrine responses, and depression-like behavior, particularly regarding sex differences, remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of chronic Pb exposure from gestation to adulthood on redox balance, corticosterone responses, and depression-like behavior in male and female mice. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice received 250 ppm lead acetate in drinking water from gestational day 0 until offspring reached adulthood. Depression-like behavior was assessed using the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were measured in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and plasma corticosterone was quantified following behavioral stress. Chronic Pb exposure increased immobility in both behavioral tests and increased oxidative stress markers in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, with sex- and region-dependent differences. Pb exposure also altered corticosterone dynamics in both sexes: males showed a delayed corticosterone peak, whereas females exhibited a prolonged response that remained elevated 24 h after stress. Overall, chronic developmental Pb exposure was associated with depression-like behavior, oxidative imbalance, and altered corticosterone responses in a sex-dependent manner. These findings highlight biological sex as an important factor influencing the neurobehavioral, redox, and stress-related endocrine consequences of chronic developmental Pb exposure.
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BibTeX
@article{sanchezfuentes2026differences,
title = {{Sex Differences in Oxidative Stress and Depression-Like Behavior Following Chronic Lead Exposure from Pregnancy to Adulthood}},
author = {Nancy Sánchez-Fuentes and Francisca Pérez-Severiano and Leticia Carrizales Yáñez and Carolina López-Rubalcava},
journal = {Biological Trace Element Research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1007/s12011-026-05283-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05283-3},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sex Differences in Oxidative Stress and Depression-Like Behavior Following Chronic Lead Exposure from Pregnancy to Adulthood
AU - Nancy Sánchez-Fuentes
AU - Francisca Pérez-Severiano
AU - Leticia Carrizales Yáñez
AU - Carolina López-Rubalcava
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/15
JO - Biological Trace Element Research
DO - 10.1007/s12011-026-05283-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05283-3
AB - Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic heavy metal that crosses the placental barrier and may affect fetal development. However, the effects of chronic developmental Pb exposure on oxidative stress, stress-related endocrine responses, and depression-like behavior, particularly regarding sex differences, remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of chronic Pb exposure from gestation to adulthood on redox balance, corticosterone responses, and depression-like behavior in male and female mice. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice received 250 ppm lead acetate in drinking water from gestational day 0 until offspring reached adulthood. Depression-like behavior was assessed using the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were measured in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and plasma corticosterone was quantified following behavioral stress. Chronic Pb exposure increased immobility in both behavioral tests and increased oxidative stress markers in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, with sex- and region-dependent differences. Pb exposure also altered corticosterone dynamics in both sexes: males showed a delayed corticosterone peak, whereas females exhibited a prolonged response that remained elevated 24 h after stress. Overall, chronic developmental Pb exposure was associated with depression-like behavior, oxidative imbalance, and altered corticosterone responses in a sex-dependent manner. These findings highlight biological sex as an important factor influencing the neurobehavioral, redox, and stress-related endocrine consequences of chronic developmental Pb exposure.
SN - 0163-4984
SN - 1559-0720
ER -